COVID-19 presents similarly to influenza. The most common symptoms are fever (>100.4 °F or 38°C), dry cough, and shortness of breath. Other common symptoms include marked fatigue, myalgias (muscle aches), headache, and sorethroat. Chest tightness can develop early in severe cases. Diarrhea and vomiting less commonly can be presenting complaints. Physical exam is usually unremarkable with the exception of fever, tachycardias (elevated pulse), an elevated respiratory rate and low oxygen saturation on room air. Lymphadenopathy is usually not present and pulmonary exam is unremarkable. Laboratory studies are nonspecific with a low lymphocyte count, low platelets, elevated CRP, and normal procalcitonin level. CXR is insensitive (60% sensitivity) chest CT being more sensitive and highly specific and is the study of choice in patients being considered for admission to the hospital. Treatment consists of supportive care by administering nasal O2 to maintain saturation above 92%. If nasal O2 fails to achieve appropriate oxygenation intubation and mechanical ventilation with PEEP (positive end expiratory pressure) is recommended and standard ARDS protocols should guide care. Septic shock with end organ damage can develop and standard sepsis protocols are recommended with the exception of fluid administration which should be cautious.

The critical management tool for this disease is prevention through infection control methods. The 5 tactics for preventing the spread of infection were promoted from the very beginning of the pandemic 1. Identification and isolation of infected individuals. 2. Quarantining all contacts of infected patients 3. Social (or physical) distancing of individuals >70 yo, 4. Social distancing by everyone and 5. Closing of schools, universities, and nonessential businesses. Modeling by the Imperial College revealed that suppression (instituting all 5 tactics) was the only way to reduce R sub 0 to <1. Mitigation ( lowering the R sub0 but remaining > 1 allows the infection to continue and demands for treatment then outstrip the capacity of each country's health system. Campaign methods will need to be used to encourage effective infection control practices by everyone. A major challenge particularly in the United States disinformation. If people don't believe the disease is a concern they will resist following the 5 practices. Another major issue has been the socioeconomic consequences of closing schools, universities and businesses. The blunt approach of shelter in place should be avoiding whenever possible. A combination of infection control practices best described using the Swiss cheese analogy should allow a partial opening. However, this approach requires consensus and alignment. Each individual must agree to 1. wear a face mask in any potential infectious environment. 2. Avoid crowds and when necessary limit the duration of exposure. 3. Avoid closed poorly ventilated spaces , outdoor gathering being preferred. 4. Practice 6 foot physical distancing. 5. Practice good hand hygiene 6. Avoid touching your face and eyes. and 7. Ignore rumors and conspiracy theories and listen to acknowledged experts. Governments and institutions must provide adequate supplies of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), provide accessible, timely and effective testing, respond to positive tests by contact tracing and appropriate quarantine and isolation procedures, create consistent scientifically based messages about infection control, treatment and vaccination. Create effective supply chains to provide PPE, medications, and vaccines. Vaccination will provide the ultimate solution and efficacious vaccines will soon be available. If enough individuals receive the vaccine herd immunity can be achieved and the pandemic will end.

This optional module is designed with the clinician in mind. We will assume that students choosing to review this module have a strong medical background because technical terms will be used. Students opting to review this module will learn how to take the most effective history for patients with COVID-19 using an illness script that contains 4 key elements - epidemiology, timing of the progression of illness (illness pace), key symptoms, and past medical history. An assessment score NEWS-2 is described that helps to predict the course and severity of COVID-19. CXR and CT scan for the evaluation of patients are compared and contrasted. Next the roles of RTPCR, point of care Antigen testing and Antibody testing are compared. The use of other laboratory tests - CRP, D-dimer, ferritin, LDH, CPK, troponin and absolute lymphocyte count is reviewed. We show how the application of Bayes' theorem and a tiered differential diagnosis can increase the efficiency and effectiveness of SARS-CoV-2 testing. Next the management of hypoxia and respiratory failure in the ICU is covered in detail. ARDS is defined, and the 4 treatment tools: low volume ventilation, PEEP, fluid management, and prone positioning are described. The basic principles of high quality ICU care are described using the A2F bundle mnemonic. Specific considerations for management of COVID-19 ICU patients are discussed. Next management of COVID-19 patients on the medical-surgical floors is reviewed including admission, and management of proning in the conscious patient. The latest therapies are reviewed including oxygen administration, bronchodilators, diuretics, statins, ACE inhibitors and NSAIDS as well as Remdesivir and Dexamethasone. Judicious use of antibiotics is emphasized and a systematic step by step approach to the patient who is deteriorating clinically is outlined. Guidelines for deciding and managing hospital discharge are reviewed. Finally the pathogenesis and treatment of COVID-19 associate thrombosis are discussed.